How-To Geek

One of the biggest battles in Hollywood is the fight for attention. Audiences are more impatient than ever, meaning it is imperative to grab the viewer's attention within the first 10 or so minutes. Viewers face so many distractions at home that if the opening scene doesn't play well, the movie might be turned off.

As I've previously written, when something goes wrong with the computers in my family or group of friends, I'm usually the one who gets the call. Most of the time it's a simple fix. Other times, the person on the other end has no idea where to start. Trying to troubleshoot problems like this over the phone can turn a five-minute job into an hour-long conversation that I would much rather not have. My mother is the best example. Talking her through menus, settings, and buttons over the phone is a nonstarter for me. I simply don't have the patience for that.

Now's the time to grab the electronics you've been eyeing because they're at their lowest prices during Amazon's Big Deals Day sale. You can save big on Razer's ergonomic DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse, now 59% off for a limited time.

Most drivers probably don't realize they're missing out on some of the best features of Google Maps. Below that simple surface, though, is a lot of intuitive gestures and features designed to make driving safer, less stressful, and a lot smoother. These are simple, easily accessible interactions built right into the app's core to make your time behind the wheel secure and seamless.

Are you looking for some affordable DIY power tools to tackle simple projects in your rental? These Ryobi tools are perfect for just that. From drilling and driving to refinishing furniture, here are five essential, affordable Ryobi power tools you should consider picking up.

Smart locks can be wonderful — until you're locked out of your home when the battery dies. Amazon's Ring believes it has a solution with a new Ring Smart Lock that you can recharge with a crank.

Unmanaged switches are as easy as a Sunday morning. Plug in power, connect Ethernet, forget about it.

Even older Kindles are surprisingly capable, but Amazon's stock firmware limits what you can do. I've jailbroken several Kindles in my time and unlocked a ton of useful features. These are the apps and plugins I always install first.

LG is diving into the smart home space occupied by heavyweights like Google's Nest and Amazon's Ring — with some unconventional help. Apple is reportedly co-developing a slew of devices with LG as part of a reset of its smart home strategy.

Usually, when we think about Docker, the first thing that comes to mind is a terminal and that is how most people start using Docker, but it does not have to be the only way you manage it.

Cordless tools have gotten good enough that reaching for a corded option feels like a step backward for most jobs. Milwaukee knows this, and it's priced its M18 lineup accordingly. The problem is that "cordless" doesn't justify a higher price on every tool. Some of these tools cost much more than a comparable option, and the extra money doesn't get you better cuts or finishes or save you any time. You're mostly paying for the battery and the name.

Amazon's Big Deals Days sale is in full swing, and the clock is ticking to get unbelievable deals on all kinds of products. You're in luck if you're looking for quality headphones, as the Bose QuietComforts are now43% off during this limited-time promotion.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve needed to reuse a command, only to find that it’s no longer in my Bash history. If you’re anything like me, you know how frustrating that can be. But the default history settings only store a limited number of commands, meaning important ones might disappear when you need them most.

Android phones can do so much, but that doesn't stop many of us from also having a laptop or desktop PC in our lives. That's why it's handy to have apps that can work on both screens. There's no need to switch devices and break your flow.

3D printing is one of the best things that's happened to cars. There's a near-endless sea of modifications and improvements you can make, ranging from universal stuff like dashboard mounts to highly specific pieces that are no longer being made for older cars.

I’ve been using Linux for over a decade now, and during that time I’ve tested dozens of distros — both popular and obscure options. Like most distro hoppers, I usually find my next one on DistroWatch. However, it’s worth remembering that DistroWatch’s rankings aren’t representative of a distro’s quality or user count. It simply ranks how many people visit each distro’s page on DistroWatch.

I built a brand new PC in 2024, and it cost me around $3,000. I built it with the expectation that I'll be able to play all of the latest games at max settings for the next few years. And yes, I obviously knew that DLSS would play a part in that.

You might not think of Excel as a tool for managing your PC. I didn't either. But after years of accumulating files, I used it to build an inventory of everything in my Windows user folder, and suddenly I could see my computer in a way I never had before. Once that information is in Excel, I can filter it, combine different criteria, build dashboards, and follow whatever rabbit hole I happen to find.

Google Maps is usually associated with directions, traffic updates, and finding nearby places. But it also has a solid set of accessibility tools that many people don’t know about. These cover different needs, including mobility, vision, and hearing, and many of them help everyone, not just the people they were built for. Stair-free walking routes can help if you’re carrying luggage or pushing a stroller, and spoken walking directions let you keep your eyes up while you move.

If you're a fan of Ryobi power tools, there's a good chance you use multiple tools across both its 18V ONE+ and 40V battery platforms. Do you ever wish you had a single charger that could recharge both systems? Thankfully, earlier this year, Ryobi finally answered users' calls, and the new dual-platform hyper charger is finally available.